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Natural Monuments

Stones of Stenness

Natural Monuments

Stones of Stenness

Highlight • Natural Monument

Stones of Stenness

Name: Stones of Stenness
Rating: 2

Recommended by 36 hikers

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Location: Firth And Stenness, Orkney islands, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Best Hikes to Stones of Stenness

4.4

(10)

hikers

1. The Ring of Brodgar & Stones of Stenness — Orkney Islands

5.63km

01:27

20m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.3

(3)

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2. Ring of Brodgar and Maeshowe — Orkney Islands

11.1km

02:50

40m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

5.0

(4)

hikers

3. Ring of Brodgar – Stones of Stenness loop from Stenness

5.71km

01:28

20m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

Dominiek Van Dooren

June 30, 2023

Stones of Stenness, also called Standing Stones of Stenness, is a henge stone circle monument dating from the Neolithic Age, located on the southeast side of Loch of Stenness on Mainland, one of Scotland's Orkney Islands. The stone circle, together with Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and Maeshowe, belongs to the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.
The name Stones of Stenness is derived from the Old Norse Steinn-nes, a stone elevation in the landscape. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this stone circle was also referred to by the most likely romanticized term Temple of the Moon. The oldest known written reference comes from Martin Martin in 1716. In 1841 this term was still in use locally. The Temple of the Sun was used for the Ring of Brodgar.
(Wikipedia)

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Timber 👣 & Shakespeare 🐾

August 10, 2019

The Stones of Stenness is a Neolithic Henge monument (class I henge) located on the island Mainland of Orkney. They have been under state protection since 1906 and have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1999 as part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney; their conservation and reconstruction are thus promoted by the World Heritage Committee. The Stones of Stenness are located between the Loch of Stenness and the Loch of Harray near the Neolithic settlement of Barnhouse within sight of the passage Tomb of Maes Howe a mile south-east of the Ring of Brodgar. Nothing specific can be said about the purpose of the stone circle today. Only at the nearby Watchstone you can see a possible purpose: At the winter solstice, the sun sets exactly between the "Hoy Mountains", if you look at them from the "Watchstone".

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Dagmar & Hans

October 30, 2023

Nice informative stone circle

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Details

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Elevation 0 m

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Friday 7 November

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Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h

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Location: Firth And Stenness, Orkney islands, Scotland, United Kingdom

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View from Wideford Hill

Stones of Stenness

1. The Ring of Brodgar & Stones of Stenness — Orkney Islands

2. Ring of Brodgar and Maeshowe — Orkney Islands

3. Ring of Brodgar – Stones of Stenness loop from Stenness

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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